Drive in to Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre

The original movie screen featured at Raleigh Road Drive-In.

Raleigh Road Drive-In

The original movie screen featured at Raleigh Road Drive-In.

 Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre has been streaming movies under the stars since 1949 in Henderson, North Carolina. The oldest operating drive-in movie theatre in North Carolina is now owned and operated by Mark Frank, who bought the previously-named “Moon-glo” from Craig Askew to help spread his love for classic entertainment.

Frank described the condition of the theater to ABC 11 News saying “it was in such despair, when I bought it it was literally about to close.”  

 The Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre features a traditional playground, concession stand and original movie screen. Frank revamped the theatre by tearing down trees blocking the screen, renaming it to fit a more modern crowd and adding a fresh layer of paint. 

With Halloween approaching, the classic drive-in has offered double features of the newest horror films such as“It chapter 2.”

 The weekend of Friday the 13th, the outdoor theater allowed for an overnight campout featuring the classic horror movies, “It Chapter 2”, “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” “Psycho 60” and finally “Frankenstein 31.”

Sanderson Senior Marc Olson commented on his experience at the vintage drive in, saying “It was like driving into the past. I felt as though I stepped out of my everyday life and into a whole other decade.”

 As families picnic in the field or lounge in their cars, they can tune into radio station 90.3 to listen to the movie through their own car stereo.

 Raleigh Road Outdoor Theater opens Friday and Saturday nights to offer a family and pet friendly environment.